DeKalb County Community Foundation – YEP Grant provides scholarships for NIU online STEAM camps

May 28 2020 — Thanks to a Youth Engaged in Philanthropy (YEP) Grant from the DeKalb County Community Foundation, 15 DeKalb County students will be able to attend NIU STEAM online summer camps for a 90% discount, which means a week-long camp will cost families less than $10. The scholarships are available to students entering grades 6 through 12 who live in DeKalb County and can demonstrate financial need (such as qualifying for free or reduced school lunch).

The scholarship application is available online at go.niu.edu/DC20STEAM. It includes a camper essay of up to 250 words describing why the student would like to attend this camp, as well as some evidence of financial need, such as an unemployment application or free or reduced lunch form. Although the application deadline for full consideration is Friday, May 29, 2020, applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis as long as funding is available.

Various camp sessions are available between June 1 and July 31. View a full list of camps at go.niu.edu/steamcamps.

“This summer, more than ever, students need fun, interactive learning experiences,” says Judith Dymond, Ed.D., outreach and engagement associate in the NIU Division of Outreach, Engagement and Regional Development, which houses NIU STEAM. “We’re so grateful to the Community Foundation for making it possible for local students to have this experience.”

For nearly 20 years, NIU STEM Outreach (now part of NIU STEAM) has been offering fun, interactive summer camps for students interested in science, technology, engineering, art and math. This year, STEAM camps have gone virtual, with nearly two dozen sessions on topics ranging from Minecraft virtual world design to kitchen counter science, video game design, weather, photography and creative writing.

In addition to the DeKalb County YEP Grant funding, NIU STEAM also has other scholarship opportunities for students inside and outside of DeKalb County. Find the application for YEP funding at go.niu.edu/DC20STEAM and other scholarships at go.niu.edu/l0iwwz.

For questions about scholarships, contact Judith Dymond at jdymond@niu.edu or 815-753-4751.